Unwrap some fun this holiday season and head to The Happiest Place on Earth

A visit to Orange County isnt complete with a visit to the grand-daddy of theme parks, Disneyland.

Photograph by: Don Denton
, Calgary Herald

If you're looking to escape to a winter wonderland, but strapping on the skis isn't what you had in mind, then head to California.

Not for the sun and surf, which is reason enough, but for a vacation you might not think of in the middle of winter: Disneyland. Yes, you read it right, a trip to Anaheim isn't just for spring and summer breaks - it is also the perfect family getaway during the Christmas season, when the kids are antsy from all those candy canes and when the Happiest Place on Earth transforms itself into a holiday paradise.

You'll soon realize just how Disney puts on a Christmas park pageant when you see the glistening snowcapped turrets of Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle, shimmering in the clear night sky with more than 80,000 twinkling lights and icicles.

Not far away, the facade of "it's a small world" is just as magical, with more 50,000 lights covering the attraction and, inside, all the small voices are singing traditional yuletide carols, like the Mexican display with revolving dolls dressed in festive wear and singing Deck the Halls.

Everywhere you look, there are lights and garlands, baubles and Christmas music. There are Mickey Mouse-shaped wreaths, a giant decorated tree in the town square, ribboned lamp standards and, in New Orleans Square, thousands of jeweltoned decorations and beads adorning everything.

Twice a day, Main Street comes alive with toy soldiers, giant gingerbread men, dancing elves, your favourite Disney characters and Old St. Nick himself in the Christmas Fantasy Parade.

Some might say it feels like a sprinkling of Christmas fairy dust is in the air or perhaps it's the snow falling from the street lanterns above.

Disneyland's traditional nightly fireworks spectacular, seasonally titled Believe ... in Holiday Magic, is set to a backdrop of carols and includes fireworks that look like falling snowflakes.

If the kids like a little scare, head to the Haunted Mansion for an unconventional Christmas, hosted by Jack Skellington. The main character from Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas takes over the Mansion, decking the halls with Santa-capped pumpkins, glowing graveyards with merry skeletons, neon-wrapped presents and ghoulish garlands. But beware: Skellington will scare the tinsel off your tree.

The festive fun doesn't stop there.

Stop by Adventureland, one of seven magical-themed destinations within Disneyland, and hop aboard the Jingle Cruise, the Christmas version of the Jungle Cruise, where the boats are decorated with lights and garlands and where, under a canopy of live plants, you'll explore the Disney jungle and encounter an array of wildlife and unexpected spurts.

The lively skipper steering the ship, which first left the dock in 1955, will have the older set in stitches with seasonally inspired jokes.

After you've exhausted Disneyland itself, head over to California Adventure, the second park within the Disneyland Resort, where you'll feel like you're stepping back in time to the days of old Hollywood, where the streets are lined with old-fashioned shops serving up candy canes and other holiday treats, and where vintage street cars rumble by and barbershop quartets sing holiday favourites.

Disney decorators worked their holiday magic in Cars Land, too, bringing the town of Radiator Springs to life with a car-themed vibe. Route 66 is festooned with white-walled wreaths, tinselled pylons, tire trees - along with the real thing covered in silver hubcaps - and garlands made from air filters.

Don't forget to take in the World of Colour show, an after-dark adventure that brings the night sky to life over Paradise Pier. The show, which first debuted in 2010, has been retooled as a Winter Dreams extravaganza, where host Olaf, the lovable snowman from Disney's newly released movie Frozen, takes you through a series of dreamlike segments set to seasonal songs.

An assortment of Disney characters make an appearance, including the likes of Bambi, Snow White and Wreck-it-Ralph.

The show, which lights up the sky using more than 1,200 fountains, lights, laser and high-definition projections on mist screens, kicks off with a moving performance by 150 singers from across the U.S., who form a virtual choir singing the Disney-commissioned song, Glow. Setting the backdrop for this impressive display is Mickey's Fun Wheel, the park's sky-high ferris wheel, which dazzles with a rainbow of moving lights.

Over on California Screamin' - a must-do coaster that blasts off in a blur and reaches 89 km/h - the ride's plunging dips and dizzying heights are outlined with hundreds of festive lights.

And, of course, before you get to Disneyland or California Adventure, be sure to wander through Downtown Disney, which is completely dressed for the season. There is Olaf's outdoor frozen ice rink, live bands playing Christmas music, a towering decorated tree, an oldfashioned Christmas village and, of course, more lights and festive fringe than you can imagine.

Disney at Christmas? Where else can you careen through caves dodging giant cobras and boulders with the likes of Indiana Jones, ramble down white water rapids on the Grizzly River Run, soar over the state of California, take on Darth Vader as newly trained Jedi, visit with Cinderella in the Royal Hall, take a deep sea dive with Ariel and the gang, cruise down Route 66, take a stroll back in time along Buena Vista Street - all while taking in the sights and sounds of our favourite holiday season? Holiday time at Disneyland is on through Jan. 6, 2014.

Where to stay? How to get there? Details on holiday attractions? What you need to know - from insider tips on fast passes to best places to eat - to make your stay perfect? You'll find all that information, and more, at disneyparks.disney.go.com.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.